U.S. based group call for Aubrey Hutson resignation due to misconduct

In a release to the media, head of the New York based, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), Rickford Burke, has called for President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, to resign from his post after, “recklessly and irresponsibly acting outside the jurisdiction of the AAG”, to hinder local student-athletes’ participation at this year’s Penn Relays in the United States.
The correspondence detailed, “Mr. Aubrey Hutson… last week stated on a NCN newscast that the AAG has not sanctioned any Guyanese students to participate in the Penn Relays… Mr. Hutson also claimed that the AAG received a request from Penn Relays to sanction three student-teams from Guyana which have registered to

Christopher Jones

participate in the athletic meet from April 25-27. Mr. Hutson also, without producing any evidence, accused the students of fraud and impugned their characters on national television. Worst, he allegedly took steps to obstruct these children from securing their US visas to travel to Philadelphia to participate in the Penn Relays.”
When Kaieteur Sports contacted Hutson, the administrator noted that the AAG is empowered through IAAF rules to sanction any local athlete’s participation at an international event. And, he also noted that any athlete that participates without permission will be subject to disciplinary action.
However, the case put forward by the CGID, is that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is the sanctioning body since the Penn Relays is a school competition and the MOE had already granted approval to the teams namely, Fort Wellington, New Campbellville and Government Technical Institute.
“Mr. Hutson interjected himself into a government matter, in which he has no standing, and misled the Guyanese public. Government regulation rightly gives the MOE jurisdiction over students participating in international athletics competitions from school institutions within its remit… The AAG only has jurisdiction over athletes from athletic clubs that are registered with the AAG,” the release continued.
When the Director of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chris Jones, was contacted by Kaieteur Sport, he confirmed that the MOE is the sanctioning body in this situation and revealed that Hutson’s actions had resulted in students from Fort Wellington being denied U.S. travel visas.
“The Directors of the Penn Relays are now in communication with the MOE and the NSC and the matter has been resolved. CGID wishes to thank the Directors of the Penn Relays, Guyana’s Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, as well as officials of the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs for working together to resolve this matter,” the correspondence from CGID concluded.
Hutson has indicated to Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the AAG will be hosting a press conference to further address the matter on Tuesday. (Calvin Chapman)